Ep. 20 | Jean Carlos – Pastry Chef

Jean Carlos was born and raised in a traveling circus in Brazil, performing as a clown with his parents and later on the trapeze. The circus moved to a different city every two weeks, which meant attending a new public school constantly. He describes it as challenging, with storms, broken equipment, and sometimes no electricity or water, but also fun because he got to live differently than most kids.

“We were a travel circus, every two weeks we move to different cities, so we travel all over Brazil. Sometimes the structure are very poor, sometimes the structure are very good. It was really rough time but I think one of the best memories was just being able to live differently.”Jean Carlos

Jean Carlos broke his arms twice while performing on the trapeze but continued performing despite the injuries. He describes the circus life as fun but dangerous, with constant challenges and instability as they traveled from city to city.

“I break my arms twice. But I was still there. I was still alive.”Jean Carlos

When Jean Carlos was 10 years old, his mother decided to leave the circus and live a normal life. They moved close to a bakery, and when he saw people working there, his passion ignited. He begged his mother to let him work with the baker, and that is where everything started. He later went to culinary school in Brazil and worked professionally for 15 years before moving to the United States.

“When I was 10 years old, my mom decided to not live this life and we stopped in the city. We moved close to a bakery and then I saw people working in this bakery and then my passion is start there.”Jean Carlos

Jean Carlos moved to Atlanta in 2021 during the middle of the pandemic with no English, no connections, just a backpack and a dream. He applied for jobs and one year later he was living in the United States. He describes arriving at the airport by himself as both scary and exciting, and Atlanta became his first American home where he felt welcomed by the community.

“I moved here in 2021, let's say that, was a challenge because it was in the middle of a pandemic. I do not speak the language. I don't know anyone here. I just decided, oh, I think I'm going to look for a job and apply. And then one year after I was here, landing, and it was just crazy and wild to me.”Jean Carlos

Jean Carlos says competing on Holiday Baking Championship was especially challenging because he is from Brazil and did not grow up with American holiday traditions or flavors. Other contestants had more knowledge of Thanksgiving and Christmas flavors, but he did a good job and made it to the semi-finals. He worked in teams, Team Naughty and Team Nice, and was placed on Team Nice.

“Every challenge was a challenge for me, especially because, like I say, I'm born and raised in Brazil. I don't have the American culture all the flavors you guys have in here for holidays so people have more knowledge than me on that thing but I did a really good job of the show went to the semi -finals.”Jean Carlos

Jean Carlos explains that each one-hour episode took about two days or 15 hours per day to film. The judging portion alone was about 30 minutes in reality, but condensed to 15 to 20 seconds on air. He filmed the show in LA over four weeks last June. While he wishes they had shown more of the positive feedback from judges, he appreciates how they told his story and helped him connect with fans.

“We film every episode for about two days or 15 hours in a day for one episode for them to condense everything in one hour. Every judging part is about 30 minutes and they condense everything like 15, 20 seconds.”Jean Carlos

Jean Carlos says many people have connected with him after watching the show. Fans recognize him on the streets and at work, and some have even booked hotel stays at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin specifically to meet him. Although he is naturally very shy and introverted, he enjoys meeting fans and hearing their stories.

“I have a lot of people meet me outside on the streets, on my work. People book the hotel to meet me. So it was really, really fun. Connect with these people, make these new friends.”Jean Carlos

Jean Carlos works at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, where he creates elaborate holiday displays made entirely from scratch using real food like chocolate and gingerbread. This year they are building a real-size gingerbread house for the lobby, along with Nutcracker figures, Santa Claus, a sleigh, and two reindeer all made from chocolate or gingerbread. They have been working on the display since June for a November 20 unveiling.

“This year we're going to put out a real size gingerbread house on the lobby at the hotel. And then Nutcracker, Santa Claus, the sleigh with two reindeers all made from chocolate or gingerbread. We've been working on this display since the beginning of June.”Jean Carlos

Jean Carlos says the reason he puts so many hours into his work is to see people smile and react with wonder. He wants people, especially adults, to ask how something so complicated is even possible. Working in hospitality and pastry is not easy, but making special moments happen and bringing magic to people drives him to continue. For him, a dessert is never just a dessert.

“My reason why is to see a smile, to see a reaction, to see, wow, how this is possible. We work really hard. We spend a lot of hours on the kitchen to make people happy, to make special moments happen. This is one of the things drive us to continue doing this.”Jean Carlos

Jean Carlos has been working professionally in pastry for 15 years. He started at age 10 working in a bakery in Brazil, went to culinary school, and even did a pastry show on Brazilian television before moving to the United States in 2021. He says every day is a learning experience and he never stops thinking about pastry, even in his sleep.

“This point will be professional, professional be 15 years. I went to sleep. I fell asleep. I wake up on my dreams. It's all about pastry. I went to sleep thinking about all what I can do, how I can make this recipe better.”Jean Carlos

Jean Carlos dreams of opening his own bakery where he can put all his ideas into practice. He thinks Atlanta is the right place because the city is growing, has a strong community, and he already feels part of the Atlanta family from when he lived there. He believes Atlanta is a place where he could grow a business and make people's lives better and more enjoyable.

“My dream job right now, it's maybe open something for me that I can put all my ideas. My own bakery. I think Atlanta is a very good community that you can grow. This city is growing and moving. I think here is the right place.”Jean Carlos

Jean Carlos says Atlanta is still home to him and he loves the city. When he returned to Atlanta for a visit, he cried at the airport remembering how he arrived four years ago with nothing and built a life there in just four years. He felt welcomed by the Atlanta community, made close friends, and considers Atlanta family. He misses the sense of community and the connections he made there.

“I got here on Tuesday night and I remember exactly when I got here four years ago for the first time in the U.S. by myself with no English, with nothing, just a backpack and a dream and I started crying at the airport because I was like this is so crazy to me how I got here four years ago and I made my life here in fou”Jean Carlos